Paleo Diet and Paleolithic Diet Questions & Answers

Question

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A few months back butter was really cheap so I bought a lot and kept it in the back of the fridge. That would have worked out fine except I stopped eating eggs for a couple months as part of an elimination experiment (back on eggs), and buttering the pan for eggs was the main use for my butter.

Now I have a kilo of butter that expires in a few days and I don't know what to do with it all. I thought about bearnaise sauce/hollandaise sauce, but apparently they don't keep in the fridge. I live alone so it will all be for me. Yes, I doubt anything terrible would happen if I used it all over the next month, but I try to draw the line at the expiry date.

What are some good paleo recipes that use a lot of butter, and either don't require much time or are fridge-friendly?

Edit: I don't have space in my freezer, and in any event it would be a hassle to hack off appropriate portions and unfreeze them since I don't use that much butter for each meal.

edited Nov 23 2011 at 2:52

asked Nov 23 2011 at 2:45

dav
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Then I guess you really do have a problem. Make ghee? That will last indefinitely in the fridge. – Shari Bambino Nov 23 2011 at 2:56

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Just because something has reached the expiration date doesn't mean it automatically goes bad. That's to be used as a guideline and to absolve the company of any liability if a person gets sick. I never check expiration dates on stuff like butter. If it smells funny, I don't eat it. – Nemesis Nov 23 2011 at 2:58

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Make ghee. It has a longer shelf life because you get rid of the milk solids. – Beth-WeightMaven Nov 23 2011 at 3:12

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Unlike other things, frozen butter slices pretty easily. I find it very easy to just take out a stick and slice off whatever I need. If you can repack your fridge to make a little more room (or take out some meat and eat it!), then yes, I'd freeze it. – Heidi Nov 23 2011 at 4:23

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If it's not raw butter, I don't see it going bad. My mother has used 3-6 month butter past the best buy/sell by date. – Lady_Arwen Nov 23 2011 at 5:03

show 2 more comments

Rogue Nutritionist · Accepted Answer · 2011-11-23 03:34:44Z UTC

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You could make ghee which has a much longer shelf life. I put mine to simmer in the crockpot, periodically skimming scum of the surface, then when there's a layer of scum at the bottom, pour off the liquid into a jar and enjoy!

answered Nov 23 2011 at 3:34

Rogue Nutritionist
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Wcc Kamal Stabby fan · Answer 2 · 2011-11-23 15:00:18Z UTC

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Butter freezes well. Put it in the freezer and defrost 4 to 8 oz as needed for cooking and consumption.

edited Nov 23 2011 at 15:00

answered Nov 23 2011 at 2:47

Wcc Kamal Stabby fan
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LOL! Richard. We posted at the same time. Great minds think alike! – Shari Bambino Nov 23 2011 at 2:48

I don't have space in my freezer. – dav Nov 23 2011 at 2:49

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can you get a 5 cubic feet chest freezer? Useful for buying cheap stuff and freezing! Pays for itself in less than a month usually. Cheap available from Lowes, Home Depot, Sears etc for $150-225 + delivery. – Lady_Arwen Nov 23 2011 at 5:02

Shari Bambino · Answer 3 · 2011-11-23 02:47:59Z UTC

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Stick it in the freezer.

answered Nov 23 2011 at 2:47

Shari Bambino
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+1 No, I posted 1st !!! :-P – Wcc Kamal Stabby fan Nov 23 2011 at 3:28

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LOL! I stand corrected. You are definitely the winner of the "shove your buttah in the damn freezer and call it a day" contest. Good job! – Shari Bambino Nov 23 2011 at 3:59

Next time make 2 pumpkin pies and stick one in the freezer, Shari!!!! – Wcc Kamal Stabby fan Nov 23 2011 at 4:23

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Touche Ricardo! – Shari Bambino Nov 23 2011 at 4:37

Olivia · Answer 4 · 2011-11-23 02:50:00Z UTC

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Just freeze it. No need to try and eat a kilo of butter in one recipe!

answered Nov 23 2011 at 2:50

Olivia
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Kewpie · Answer 5 · 2011-11-23 02:50:47Z UTC

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You might want to take a look at this article. There are no regulations at all on best by/sell by dates. You don't need to use it all up at once. Just put it in the freezer and defrost as needed.

answered Nov 23 2011 at 2:50

Kewpie
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Kasra · Answer 6 · 2011-11-23 02:55:53Z UTC

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Try eating it --> http://paleohacks.com/questions/24509/1-4-lb-of-butter-and-boundless-energy#axzz1eSk0lFOl

answered Nov 23 2011 at 2:55

Kasra
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APC · Answer 7 · 2011-11-23 03:08:10Z UTC

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as long as it hasn't sprung to life it's fine.

(in other words, butter is good until mold takes over)

answered Nov 23 2011 at 3:08

APC
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yeah generally when dairy has actually turned, you will know immediately. Accidentally eating rancid butter is unlikely. – Olivia Nov 23 2011 at 7:14

Heidi · Answer 8 · 2011-11-23 04:33:21Z UTC

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If you eat other dairy besides butter, you could always make an Alfredo sauce with aged parmesan, cream and butter Pour it over some spaghetti squash and YUM!

answered Nov 23 2011 at 4:33

Heidi
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Sounds great!!! – Eric Nov 23 2011 at 6:06

andrew · Answer 9 · 2011-11-23 08:46:59Z UTC

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Just keep using it. You'll know at once if it goes rancid. Until then, it is fine. And as others have pointed out - it freezes really well.

answered Nov 23 2011 at 8:46

andrew
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LauraFIN · Answer 10 · 2011-11-23 09:13:11Z UTC

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Add butter on your food. On the steak, on the steamed veggies, whatever you eat. It's delicious with almost anything. Make herb butter or other flavored butter, it serves as a great dip.

answered Nov 23 2011 at 9:13

LauraFIN
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Tom · Answer 11 · 2011-11-23 13:03:48Z UTC

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Make a hollandaise sauce for some tasty asparagus, or as others have mentioned, make a roll of herb butter and freeze it.

answered Nov 23 2011 at 13:03

Tom
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Matt · Answer 12 · 2011-11-23 16:05:21Z UTC

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Expiration dates are more guidelines than rules.

answered Nov 23 2011 at 16:05

Matt
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Evelyn aka CarbSane · Answer 13 · 2011-11-23 20:13:59Z UTC

Ummmm ... No room in the freezer? Really, I get that ... sort of ... but 2 lbs of butter is not a lot. If it's one chunk instead of sticks, cut it up and wrap in wax paper, throw in a bag and freeze. Maybe there's something in the freezer that needs to be cooked up to make room ;) That said, if it's been in the back of the fridge and not taken in and out repeatedly, I would say the expiration date is likely more a guideline than anything.

I keep stuff in the fridge/freezer days past expiration and eat them ... and I've NEVER gotten sick from them.

1 kg (2 lbs) butter expires soon: recipes to use it all for one person?

13 Answers